The Fed Committee maintains unchanged key interest rates for second consecutive month, Japan's equity markets present numerous investment prospects and WeWork files for Chapter 11. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

The #sp500 Index recorded its strongest weekly gain in nearly a year. Signs of a slowing economy and a rather dovish #FOMC meeting led to a sharp decrease in long-term bond yields. The gains were broad-based and led by the small-cap Russell 2000 Index, which scored its best weekly gain since October 2022. On Wednesday, the #Fed left rates steady, as expected, but investors appeared encouraged by the post-meeting statement, which signaled that the recent runup in long-term Treasury yields had achieved some of policymakers’ intended tightening in financial conditions. Friday’s US payrolls report seemed to confirm that the labor market was cooling. Employers added 150,000 jobs in October, below expectations and the lowest level since June, and September’s strong gain was revised lower.

The reduction of short-term uncertainties—Fed decisions, the Quarterly US Treasury issuance program, and the BoJ—alongside worsening US economic and job data, has swiftly taken the edge off the October yield surge!

Strong US Economy proves resilient in face of tightening financial conditions. In October, global stocks declined due to concerns about rising interest rates and the Israel-Hamas conflict, while the US economy remained strong. The US dollar strengthened for the third consecutive month, reaching its highest monthly close since November 2022. Gold continued to be a top choice for hedging against economic uncertainties, and Bitcoin experienced its best month since January 2023, with its price surpassing $35,000. Each month, the Syz investment team takes you through the last month in ten charts.

While the AI bubble seems to be deflating for the Magnificant 7, OpenAI's valuation is close to $90 billion! The shares of four of Wall Street's biggest banks are under pressure which is causing concern among investors and the market. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

US equities indices finished lower for a 2nd straight week, as market sentiment was dented by mixed corporate earnings reports, geopolitical tensions and concerns about rising bond yields. It was a busy week for quarterly earnings reports, with nearly a third of the S&P 500 Index due to report, including Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon. Although most metrics reported by the companies showed solid growth and exceeded consensus expectations, markets seemed to pounce on indications of rising expenses, which weighed on shares. On the macro side, US real GDP grew at an annualized pace of 4.9% in Q3, led by strong consumer spending. Meanwhile, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index provided mixed evidence on whether inflation is moderating.

In Europe, the ECB has taken a pause in its rate-hiking spree for the first time since July 2022. All eyes are now on the upcoming monetary policy decisions from the Fed and the BoJ next week.

Cash is king, as the yield on US Treasuries exceeds the earnings yield on the S&P 500. Gold hits $2000 and China increasingly shuns US bonds. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.

Alarm bells are ringing in the world of fixed income as the 10-year nominal US Treasury yield skyrockets to 5%. This level hasn't been seen since July 2007, setting off concerns and reactions across financial markets.

Geopolitical concerns, tough talk from Fed officials, and a rise in long-term bond yields to 16-year highs appeared to weigh on sentiment and drove the S&P 500 Index to its biggest weekly decline in a month. The Nasdaq fared worst among the major benchmarks and nearly moved back into bear market territory, ending the week 19.9% below its early-2022. Growth stocks lagged their value counterparts. Europe, Japan and China equities dropped sharply over the week. Stocks started the week on a strong note helped by limited negative news flow regarding the Middle East over the weekend. Deepening tensions later in the week appeared to drain the gains, however.